Overview
#NotOneMore is a gun violence prevention hashtag used after mass shootings, school shootings, and daily gun deaths, demanding legislative action to prevent further loss of life.
Origins (2014)
Post-Sandy Hook
- Emerged after Sandy Hook massacre (December 2012) grief
- Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action adopted phrase
- Initially focused on assault weapons ban, background checks
Every town USA
- Michael Bloomberg funded gun safety organization (2014)
- Merged with Moms Demand Action
- #NotOneMore became rallying cry
Major Uses
School Shootings
- Parkland (2018): Survivors used alongside #NeverAgain
- Uvalde (2022): 19 children, 2 teachers killed
- Nashville Covenant School (2023): 6 killed including 3 children
Mass Shootings
- Las Vegas (2017, 60 killed), Orlando Pulse (2016, 49 killed)
- Buffalo supermarket (2022, 10 Black shoppers targeted)
- Highland Park July 4th parade (2022)
Everyday Gun Violence
- Used for non-mass-shooting deaths
- Domestic violence, police shootings, suicides (majority of gun deaths)
- “We can’t become numb to daily toll”
Demands
Legislative
- Universal background checks (supported by 80-90% of Americans)
- Assault weapons ban
- Red flag laws (extreme risk protection orders)
- Close gun show, private sale loopholes
- Raise age to 21 for gun purchases
Cultural
- End gun culture glorification
- Responsible gun ownership norms
- Safe storage laws (prevent child access)
Contrast with NRA Messaging
”Good Guy with a Gun”
- NRA: More guns = more safety
- #NotOneMore: Countries with fewer guns have fewer gun deaths
”Thoughts and Prayers”
- Politicians’ default response mocked
- “We need action, not thoughts and prayers"
"It’s Mental Health, Not Guns”
- Response: Other countries have mental illness, don’t have mass shootings
- U.S. is only country where this happens regularly
Wins & Losses
Wins
- 25+ states passed red flag laws
- Some states raised gun purchase age
- Biden admin ghost gun rule
- 2022: First federal gun reform in 30 years (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act)
Losses
- No assault weapons ban (expired 2004, not renewed)
- Universal background checks failed federally
- Majority of states loosened gun laws 2010-2023
- Constitutional carry in 27 states
2022: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Uvalde Catalyst
- Shooting of 19 children (May 24, 2022) broke stalemate
- Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut) led negotiations
- First gun reform since 1994
What It Did
- Enhanced background checks for under-21 buyers
- Closed “boyfriend loophole” (domestic violence)
- Funded mental health, school security
- Incentivized state red flag laws
What It Didn’t Do
- No assault weapons ban
- No universal background checks
- No high-capacity magazine ban
- Limited impact predicted
Parkland Survivors’ Role
March for Our Lives
- Used #NotOneMore alongside #NeverAgain
- Organized massive protests (2018)
- Registered hundreds of thousands of young voters
- Some won elections (Maxwell Frost, FL Congress)
Data & Statistics
U.S. Gun Violence (Annual Averages)
- 40,000+ gun deaths/year
- 2/3 are suicides
- 15,000+ homicides
- 500+ accidental deaths
- 1,000+ by police
- Children: Leading cause of death ages 1-19 (since 2020)
Mass Shootings
- 600+ mass shootings/year (4+ victims)
- School shootings: 50+ incidents/year with casualties
Comparative
- U.S. has 120 guns per 100 people (more guns than people)
- Gun death rate 10x other high-income countries
- Mass shootings virtually nonexistent in countries with strict gun laws
Criticisms
From Gun Rights Advocates
- “Shall not be infringed” (2nd Amendment absolutism)
- Slippery slope: any restriction = confiscation
- Chicago has strict laws, still has gun violence (response: illegal guns from neighboring states)
From Some Activists
- Focuses on mass shootings, ignores daily urban gun violence
- White suburban school shootings get more attention than Black/brown neighborhoods
- Police violence with guns underdiscussed
Cultural Divide
Urban vs. Rural
- Cities support gun control overwhelmingly
- Rural areas see guns as heritage, self-defense necessity
- “You can’t understand if you don’t live here”
Generational
- Gen Z grew up with active shooter drills
- Support for gun control highest among young
- Older generations more gun rights-oriented
International Perspective
How Other Countries Responded
- Australia (1996): Port Arthur massacre, banned assault weapons, buyback → mass shootings ended
- New Zealand (2019): Christchurch massacre, banned assault weapons in 26 days
- UK (1996): Dunblane school shooting, handgun ban
U.S. Exceptionalism
- Only developed nation where mass shootings routine
- Gun lobby (NRA) politically powerful
- 2nd Amendment interpreted expansively
2023-2024: Continued Crisis
Nashville Covenant School
- March 27, 2023: 6 killed at Christian school
- Calls for assault weapons ban renewed
- Tennessee GOP expelled Democratic legislators for protesting
No Federal Action
- Divided Congress, no new legislation
- Executive orders limited impact
- State-level divergence: blue states restrict, red states loosen
Emotional Toll
Desensitization
- “Another day, another mass shooting”
- Hashtag trends, then fades until next one
- Activists battle compassion fatigue
Survivor Networks
- Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde families meet
- Shared trauma, advocacy
- “We’re the club no one wants to join”